A Comparative Study on the Management of Marine Protected Areas Between the Philippines and United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Abstract

This special problem sought to compare how MPAs are being managed in the two states which are geographically apart and politically and culturally different. The comparative study focused on the Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park (TRNMP) for the Philippines and the Marawah MPA for United Arab Emirates (UAE). Both MPAs were assessed in terms of their biophysical attributes to include the biodiversity resources and how they are managed. The study relied on secondary data gathered especially in the case of Tubbataha. In Marawah, secondary and primary data were collected. In the comparative analysis, both the effectiveness and inefficiencies of MPAs in the Philippines and UAE's were evaluated. Lessons gained in implementing MPAs were also assessed. The basis for comparison included policy and institutional arrangement, enforcement measures and research and development activities. Broad comparative features between the two sites were presented. Tubbataha Reef Natural Marine Park, is a pair of true coral atoll formations in the Philippines situated at the very center of Sulu Sea. Its unique coral formations are the major reasons why it was declared as one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Meanwhile, the Marawah MPA covering an area of about 425,500 hectares was established in 2001 and boasts of its rich coastal and marine resources including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves. The MPA hosts 60 percent of the world's dugong population. It is also an important habitat for the critically endangered Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the endangered Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas). About 5 percent of the world's population of the vulnerable Socotra cormorant (Phalacrocorax nigrogularis) use Marawah MPA as their nestling site. In 2007, the Marawah MPA was declared as UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The strength of Tubbataha's management lies in four contributory factors which proved to be critical to its management success namely: (1) investment in systems, (2) information backed by hard science; (3) stakeholder involvement and commitment and (4) resilience. For Marawah, its financial sustainability was the major contributory factor to its success. Unlike in UAE, a number of national legislations, specific administrative orders and local directives govern TRNMP. Although the legal basis of Marawah's operations management is based on the number of federal laws related to the marine and coastal environment including regional and global environmental agreements, underwent a series of development to be implemented. This study recommends that collaboration among various stakeholders should be continued. Integration of community participation, environmental education, economic incentives, and long term institutional support from government, NGO and academe offers a good formula for an MPA to succeed as exemplified by Tubbataha. To ensure sustainability, financial stability needs to be assured. Periodic monitoring of resources should be conducted to determine the changes through time of various marine resources to support an appropriate management scheme for the MPA.